Maximum residue levels for methoxyfenozide
- Pesticide MRLs
Summary
Commission Regulation 2022/1406, published on 18 August 2022, reduces MRLs to the Limit of Determination (0.01 mg/kg) for methoxyfenozide on apples, pears, peaches and broccoli after 28 February 2023. The MRL for tomatoes is also reduced.
Commission Regulation 2023/1069, published on 2 June 2023, increases MRLs for methoxyfenozide on basil and edible flowers, teas, coffee beans and sugar cane.
EU reduces MRLs for methoxyfenozide to the limit of determination on apples, pears, peaches and broccoli from February 2023
Commission Regulation (EU) 2022/1406 of 3 August 2022 amending Annexes II, III and V to Regulation (EC) No 396/2005 of the European Parliament and of the Council as regards maximum residue levels for methoxyfenozide, propoxur, spinosad and thiram in or on certain products
Commission Regulation (EU) 2023/1069 of 1 June 2023 amending Annex II to Regulation (EC) No 396/2005 of the European Parliament and of the Council as regards maximum residue levels for bixafen, cyprodinil, fenhexamid, fenpicoxamid, fenpyroximate, flutianil, isoxaflutole, mandipropamid, methoxyfenozide, and spinetoram in or on certain products
Update
Commission Regulation 2022/1406, published on 18 August 2022, reduces MRLs to the Limit of Determination (0.01 mg/kg) for methoxyfenozide on apples, pears, peaches and broccoli after 28 February 2023. The MRL for tomatoes is also reduced.
Commission Regulation 2023/1069, published on 2 June 2023, increases MRLs for methoxyfenozide on basil and edible flowers, teas, coffee beans and sugar cane.
Impacted Products
apples, pears, peaches, broccoli, tomatoes, basil and edible flowers, teas, coffee beans, sugar canes
What is changing?
MRLs are amended for the products listed in Table 1.
Why?
During the renewal approval process, EFSA identified unacceptable risks for consumers with the current MRLs for methoxyfenozide in a number of fruits and vegetables (EFSA 2020). In the case of tomatoes, an alternative good agricultural practice (GAP) was identified that would permit the setting of a lower MRL. For others, it was determined that the MRL should be set at the limit of determination (LOD, the lowest level that can be detected using the most modern and reliable analytical methods).
New Codex MRLs (CXLs) for methaxifenozide have been adopted. EFSA (2022) has not identified a consumer health risk for these CXLs, so they have been adopted as EU MRLs in Regulation (EU) 2023/1069.
Timeline
New MRLs will apply from 28 February 2023. For tomatoes lawfully placed on the EU market before this date, the prior MRL of 2 mg/kg continues to apply, and the tomatoes may remain on the market after 28 February, even where not compliant with the new MRLs.
Apples, pears, peaches and broccoli imported into the EU before 28 February must immediately comply with the 0.01 mg/kg MRL from that date.
New increased MRLs for basil and edible flowers, teas, coffee beans and sugar cane will apply from 22 June 2023.
Recommended Actions
Suppliers of apples, pears, cherries, peaches and broccoli must urgently seek alternatives to the use of methoxyfenozide due to the withdrawal of existing MRLs. The new MRLs apply from 28 February 2023, but any of these products exported before this date and arriving in the EU after 28 February must be in conformity with the new 0.01 mg/kg levels.
Background
MRLs are set in accordance with the rules set out in Regulation 396/2005. For information on current MRLs for other substances, please consult the EU Pesticide Residues database.
Resources
EFSA (2020) Focussed assessment of certain existing MRLs of concern for methoxyfenozide. EFSA Journal, 18(12): 6330.
EFSA (2022) Scientific support for preparing an EU position in the 53rd session of the codex committee on pesticide residues (CCPR). EFSA Journal, 20(9): 7521.
Sources
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